Time To Meet And Greet (Page One)
We gathered together at the Yorba Linda Country Club and celebrated the Chinese New Year, the year of the rabbit. We had over ninety folks with us this evening and the place was rocking!
Did You Know? - Chinese New Year 2023 will fall on Sunday, January 22nd, 2023. The date of the Chinese New Year is determined by the Chinese lunar calendar. The date changes every year but is always somewhere in the period from January 21st to February 20th.
The tables were set and the band was ready as we arrived on this rainy evening.
The barkeep was busy this evening
There was a lot of red in the group in keeping with the New Year traditions.
Iris is here, the party can now officially start!
Marcin and John compare notes
Holly makes the rounds
John and Allison, First on the floor this evening!
A beautiful couple
Visiting gets seriously underway
Did You Know? - Each Chinese year is associated with an animal sign according to the Chinese zodiac cycle. 2023 is the year of the Rabbit, specifically, Water Rabbit. The sign of Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture. 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope.
The band makes some adjustments
Vicky and Jim are dressed for the evening
Oh dear!
Mary and Paul found the official backdrop
Ready to dance!
Did You Know? - First, legend states that the Chinese New Year stemmed from an ancient battle against the Nian (/nyen/, which sounds the same as 'year' in Chinese), a terrifying beast that showed up every Lunar New Year's Eve to eat people and livestock. To scare away the monster, people displayed red paper, burned bamboo, lit candles, and wore red clothes. These traditions have been continued until the present time. Second, it is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the Chinese lunisolar calendar.
The wine begins to flow
John Jumper (Past President from 2000) joins us this evening
Our fearless leaders take to the floor
The music was wonderful this evening.
Did You Know? - Celebrations of Chinese New Year traditionally last for 16 days, starting from Chinese New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival. The first 7 days are a public holiday, from January 21st to January 27th in 2023.
Red Red Red!
Big smiles!
The floor was bust all night long
We love that dress Allison!
It was a colorful evening
The band played on
Sometimes the floor was a little crowded
Off roading was required on occasion
Gold and red was everywhere
Keep on moving!
Ed hears the band talking about the Ten Step Polka!
Did You Know? - Chinese New Year Traditions
Regional customs and traditions vary widely but share the same theme: seeing out the old year and welcoming in the luck and prosperity of a new year.
The main Chinese New Year activities include
- putting up decorations,
- offering sacrifices to ancestors,
- attending reunion dinner with family on New Year's Eve,
- giving red envelopes and other gifts,
- firecrackers and fireworks, and
- watching lion and dragon dances.
Lookout, here they come!
Count 'em, it's the ten step polka!
Off to the races!
Once or twice around and it is time to rest!
Time for a break!